Image source: http://www.washington.edu/news/files/2016/04/Galapagos-Adult_wm.jpg
The Privilege of Experience
Current Events
For wildlife enthusiasts who visit the region on Galapagos holidays, it remains a privilege and a memorable experience to see the species in its natural habitat. In years to come, the populace may regain its prevalence of decades past proving that in some cases, human intervention can be positive rather than harmful to the sector's wildlife.
By providing the means for the species to take advantage of the favourable nesting conditions, the artificial nests have played a necessary role in this populace regeneration. With the expectation of another La Nia in the spring of 2018, it's hoped that this breeding windfall will proceed and boost numbers even further. The Galapagos Conservancy has supported the programme since 2013, and the body recognises the useful work of this committed group of researchers. Their long-term goal is to increase the populace to such a point that it can withstand adverse climatic fluctuations, and representatives will return to the islands in February 2018 to check on the nests and share their findings.
A Breeding Bonanza
The wildlife of the Galapagos Islands has fascinated us since naturalist Charles Darwin brought them to the attention of the sector through his groundbreaking voyage of discovery in the early 1800s. His research in the archipelago formed the basis of what was to become his revolutionary theory of natural selection.
In later years, this group of islands off the coast of Ecuador has become a popular place for eco-tourism. There are few places on Earth that offer such insight into the machinations of our natural world and, for wildlife enthusiasts, Galapagos holidays can be one of the memorable experiences of their lives.
Among the unique endemic species, the infrequent and endangered Galapagos Penguin is one of the sought-after sightings. In 2017, after several decades of populace decline, researchers have seen a spike in the birds' breeding, and it appears that there's some good news at last for the most endangered penguin species on the planet and thats also good news for wildlife lovers who visit the region on Galapagos holidays.
The nests were created by digging tunnels into the lava of the landscape, or by stacking plate lava. These nests have been nicknamed "penguin condos" and have been built on three of the archipelago's islands: Isabela, Bartolom and Fernandina. The researchers' goal was to make sure that during times of abundant food availability (when breeding is likely to occur), the birds had access to a safe nesting site in which to protect their eggs and keep them cool.
The upswing in breeding is immediately correlated to the weather event of La Nia, which brings cooler, nutrient-rich currents to the oceans surrounding the archipelago. In the past years of El Nio events (which bring slower and warmer currents, creating a dearth of food sources), the consequences for the penguin populace have been devastating. It's estimated that there are less than part as many today as in the pre-El Nio years of 1972-73 and 1982-83.
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The reason for the recent breeding bonanza has by no means been an overnight success. Many of the nests the birds had used for the past 40 years have been destroyed by flooding or overtaken by Marine Iguanas. So, in 2010, a research team from the University of Washington began to work on a project that encompassed the shape of 120 artificial penguin nests, with a goal of providing as many breeding opportunities as conceivable for the species.
Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature author with a special interest in the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Marissa chooses the expert-led Galapagos holidays organised by Naturetrek, which have brought her unforgettable sightings of a wide range of wildlife in one of the spectacular regions on Earth.
